Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2017 Draft Almanac

[HedgeFund]

AFL Draft wrap with a focus on Dustin Martin clone and possible number one overall selection Cameron Rayner: http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/19755024/knightmare-afl-draft-wrap-rayner-next-dustin-martin

Missing visible neck tattoos and possessing three further years of high school education - other than that, the comparison is valid.

 

[Hutchy Jnr]

Small Defenders under 180cm? For draft combine predictions, only got 4 players at the moment?
Farrell, Penrith, McCarthy and Foster .

 

[Unfinished]

My projections of Burton are certainly increasing and around 15 is where I'd have him from the 2015 group on career projection with 10 a best case scenario.

Weitering, Schache, Mills, Oliver, Parish, Hopper, Kennedy and Hipwood are much better talents and should be better with opportunities/correct development/a good run of health.

Burton is in that next tier down.

From a list perspective, Burton looks like he'll be a best 15 player on the clubs list, maybe top 10 if things go right which will be good but he's no gamechanger. Just a good piece/high level role player. Forward or back.

G'day KM big fan of your work,

Just wondering if you still hold this opinion?

 

[Knightmare]

Small Defenders under 180cm? For draft combine predictions, only got 4 players at the moment?
Farrell, Penrith, McCarthy and Foster .

They're the better sub 180cm types are mids and forwards.

Small defenders who are sub 180cm are a rare variety in the AFL. You have to be really good down back if you're sub 180cm.

G'day KM big fan of your work,

Just wondering if you still hold this opinion?

Ryan Burton is on the rise and has had a terrific season to date. Top 10 from 2015 but not top 5 to provide a status update on my earlier quoted statement.

Weitering, Oliver, Hopper, M.Kennedy, Mills, Hipwood. Top of mind, they're all guys I'd take ahead of Burton from that draft.

Strong choice by Hawthorn. That's what matters and they didn't mess the choice up.

 

[Hutchy Jnr]

They're the better sub 180cm types are mids and forwards.

Small defenders who are sub 180cm are a rare variety in the AFL. You have to be really good down back if you're sub 180cm.

Did some digging and found a couple more sub 180cm defenders, that I will include/monitor.

Any sub 180cm small forwards?
Outside of:
Farrell, Miers, Fogarty, Higgins, Gaffeny and Rowe (SA)

 

[LemmingMaster]

Moore certainly should be considered as well.

 

[captain cotch 9]

Patrick Naish seems to be coming along nicely.
What do you think Richmond will have to give up to get him as a FA?

 

[Hutchy Jnr]

Moore certainly should be considered as well.

I have Moore down as a Small Midfielder? Haven't seen a lot of him but from what I saw thought he was more Mid than Fwd...
Is that right? or

 

[THE_GUN]

Patrick Naish seems to be coming along nicely.
What do you think Richmond will have to give up to get him as a FA?

No chance 1st round selection imo

Very outside and not extremely quick but smart mover, This format suits players like Naish with no zones and no tagging lets these outside players run free and into space but will be harder in the AFL. Have not seen him win his own ball and this could also be an issue (with him being a 1st rounder)

Looks like a mid-late 2nd rounder from the 2 games i have watched so far

 

[Chism]

No chance 1st round selection imo

Very outside and not extremely quick but smart mover, This format suits players like Naish with no zones and no tagging lets these outside players run free and into space but will be harder in the AFL. Have not seen him win his own ball and this could also be an issue (with him being a 1st rounder)

Looks like a mid-late 2nd rounder from the 2 games i have watched so far

If someone else bids on him you will not have a choice.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I have Moore down as a Small Midfielder? Haven't seen a lot of him but from what I saw thought he was more Mid than Fwd...
Is that right? or

The games I've watched recently he has spent plenty of time forward as well, he looks great as a small forward. I think he has potential to play that role.

 

[THE_GUN]

If someone else bids on him you will not have a choice.

I think we do have a choice , Lets just say our picks are #12 & #15 and a club bids #14 for example and Coffield or Hayes are still available to be selected then we let them take Naish and we take the player that we rate higher - Simple

 

[Turbocat]

Knightmare...
Metro look very slick... good group of mids and their forwards superior. Has Woollers form demand him being an emg.? Or was it just sharing it around because Sutherland is in the side now? How will this affect his draft position..(id be hoping he slips to geelong) If Suthlerland stays in , perhaps fair enough but thats still unknown isn't it? A kid like Woolller misses games for a kid not yet committed seems not quite right to me.

The system has a flaws in a way..id have thought we should be trying to have the best , most draftable kids playing... Vic C.. Vic M..they are all Victorians..and a kid like Wooller , he might be VicC best forward. Yes McCartin had good hands.. but really Vic C did not seem to have a forward that had an impact.

So Wooller... still top 20?

 

[Yoda_]

I think we do have a choice , Lets just say our picks are #12 & #15 and a club bids #14 for example and Coffield or Hayes are still available to be selected then we let them take Naish and we take the player that we rate higher - Simple

Totally agree

The higher the draft pick bid, the more chance it is the fathers club will match the bid though.

See what you mean though, recruiters arent as daft as bigfooty supporters and play games for the sake of it with draft prospects.

 

[briztoon]

I think we do have a choice , Lets just say our picks are #12 & #15 and a club bids #14 for example and Coffield or Hayes are still available to be selected then we let them take Naish and we take the player that we rate higher - Simple

I've been saying the same about Ballenden. And apparently our club recruiters/scouts have said the same.

 

[Billyc]

Yep - Dermott Brereton is a long standing expert on draft depth. He spends 100s of hours watching tapes from WAFL, SANFL, TAC games.....in between surfing and bayside lunches.

Give me a spell!

This time last year McGrath and Taranto were only just coming onto the radar as top 30 talent, let alone where they eventually went (#1 and #2). Yet both have played every single game bar being "rested" for a game each.

Most recruiters and draft bloggers had them as "depth" draftees this time last year too.

Dermott's son Devlin is playing U18s this year (possible rookie selection) so I reckon he'd know a bit about the quality of the draft to be honest.

 

[HedgeFund]

Dermott's son Devlin is playing U18s this year (possible rookie selection) so I reckon he'd know a bit about the quality of the draft to be honest.

Possible rookie selection, you reckon?

According to one of those blokes Derm talks to?

 

[Procrastinator35]

Possible rookie selection, you reckon?

According to one of those blokes Derm talks to?

The ONLY reason Devlin would get a rookie pick at all, is because he's the son of Dermie......end of story.

 

[Knightmare]

Did some digging and found a couple more sub 180cm defenders, that I will include/monitor.

Any sub 180cm small forwards?
Outside of:
Farrell, Miers, Fogarty, Higgins, Gaffeny and Rowe (SA)

*The other day forgot about Nick Hogan as a small defender.

You may have missed the best one: Brent Daniels (he's inside my top 25 and is a serious talent).
Otherwise: Moustafa (Calder), Firebrace (Calder - one this year, one next), D.Moore, W.Stephenson (Gippsland), Spargo, Trusler (Sandy), Boucher (Oakleigh), Troani (Oakleigh). I could be here all day listing sub 180cm forwards with game.

Patrick Naish seems to be coming along nicely.
What do you think Richmond will have to give up to get him as a FA?

On the fringe of the first round, but probably second round - likely a bid in the 20s is my early prediction.

I have Moore down as a Small Midfielder? Haven't seen a lot of him but from what I saw thought he was more Mid than Fwd...
Is that right? or

Moore can play both equally well. His front and centre work at the base of packs is as good as any in the draft. He gets to the best position each time and just seems to come up with it.

But then he goes through the midfield and wins it. He's another Higgins in this draft, in that he's on the short side but is just as capable as a fwd or mid.

For AFL play, I tend to favour both as forwards, with both having those natural forwards instincts.

Knightmare...
Metro look very slick... good group of mids and their forwards superior. Has Woollers form demand him being an emg.? Or was it just sharing it around because Sutherland is in the side now? How will this affect his draft position..(id be hoping he slips to geelong) If Suthlerland stays in , perhaps fair enough but thats still unknown isn't it? A kid like Woolller misses games for a kid not yet committed seems not quite right to me.

The system has a flaws in a way..id have thought we should be trying to have the best , most draftable kids playing... Vic C.. Vic M..they are all Victorians..and a kid like Wooller , he might be VicC best forward. Yes McCartin had good hands.. but really Vic C did not seem to have a forward that had an impact.

So Wooller... still top 20?

Metro have a strong squad.

I've been disappointed that Wooller hasn't received greater opportunity. He doesn't even have to play as a key forward. If Metro really want to feature Sutherland, Wooller can play through the midfield and/or play half-forward which he can also do. I see no excuse for Wooller to be stuck playing for Oakleigh when he is in the form he is in, and playing as well as consistently as he is. He's one of the probably 10-15 players Metro should be really featuring in all the positions he can perform in.

I will make a final decision tonight/tomorrow before submitting my weekly power rankings to ESPN for them to post early in the week. Wooller I'm leaning towards keeping in my top 20 though.

Possible rookie selection, you reckon?

According to one of those blokes Derm talks to?

Plausible rookie but that would be all for Devlin. Has shown glimpses but still needs to do more, more often with his numbers poor in the TAC Cup still.

 

[Newatthis]

*The other day forgot about Nick Hogan as a small defender.

You may have missed the best one: Brent Daniels (he's inside my top 25 and is a serious talent).
Otherwise: Moustafa (Calder), Firebrace (Calder - one this year, one next), D.Moore, W.Stephenson (Gippsland), Spargo, Trusler (Sandy), Boucher (Oakleigh), Troani (Oakleigh). I could be here all day listing sub 180cm forwards with game.



On the fringe of the first round, but probably second round - likely a bid in the 20s is my early prediction.



Moore can play both equally well. His front and centre work at the base of packs is as good as any in the draft. He gets to the best position each time and just seems to come up with it.

But then he goes through the midfield and wins it. He's another Higgins in this draft, in that he's on the short side but is just as capable as a fwd or mid.

For AFL play, I tend to favour both as forwards, with both having those natural forwards instincts.



Metro have a strong squad.

I've been disappointed that Wooller hasn't received greater opportunity. He doesn't even have to play as a key forward. If Metro really want to feature Sutherland, Wooller can play through the midfield and/or play half-forward which he can also do. I see no excuse for Wooller to be stuck playing for Oakleigh when he is in the form he is in, and playing as well as consistently as he is. He's one of the probably 10-15 players Metro should be really featuring in all the positions he can perform in.

I will make a final decision tonight/tomorrow before submitting my weekly power rankings to ESPN for them to post early in the week. Wooller I'm leaning towards keeping in my top 20 though.



Plausible rookie but that would be all for Devlin. Has shown glimpses but still needs to do more, more often with his numbers poor in the TAC Cup still.

Moustafa has not played in defence for Cannons since about round 3 or 4, was doing ok but is better up forward. Got dropped for the last round. Both of the Firebraces have been playing mid and forward. Neither are good at tackling or holding their opponent. Very flamboyant when running forward but in defence no way.

 

[footy24seven]

Moustafa has not played in defence for Cannons since about round 3 or 4, was doing ok but is better up forward. Got dropped for the last round. Both of the Firebraces have been playing mid and forward. Neither are good at tackling or holding their opponent. Very flamboyant when running forward but in defence no way.

Possibly not 'dropped' as he's been playing well. More so the necessity to play at least 11 bottom agers from rounds 10-12


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Newatthis]

Possibly not 'dropped' as he's been playing well. More so the necessity to play at least 11 bottom agers from rounds 10-12


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yes that could be the case

 

[Knightmare]

Moustafa has not played in defence for Cannons since about round 3 or 4, was doing ok but is better up forward. Got dropped for the last round. Both of the Firebraces have been playing mid and forward. Neither are good at tackling or holding their opponent. Very flamboyant when running forward but in defence no way.

One Firebrace plays back, the other forward. They both need to find and win more of the ball. But they both show glimpses.

Moustafa I haven't seen down back but up forward he looks at home and really has natural forward talent - albeit he's another who needs to find more of the ball, though with Calder struggling there isn't all that much delivery.

I don't have Firebrace or Moustafa getting drafted at years end, but they're sorts I'd have on my radar and keep watching if they do have form spikes as rookie considerations as they talent and have shown glimpses in the Calder games I've seen.

 

[Cleric]

Knightmare where do you have Houlahan and Kruger going this year. Do you think either could do a Will Hayward?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare where do you have Houlahan and Kruger going this year. Do you think either could do a Will Hayward?

I like the look of both.

Kreuger on Friday showed plenty and looks a capable KPF. I want to see more of him.

Houlahan I've seen plenty of this year + last year and he's one of the better general forwards in this draft.

Both for mine are worth second round selections.

Plausible either could push into the first round, though I'm not tipping it.